The Geological Survey of India (GSI) in association with Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL) has organised a day long workshop on the mineral wealth of Assam entitled, “Workshop on Exploring the Mineral Wealth of Assam (EMWA): Achievements and future prospects” at Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati on 10th May, 2024.
The workshop was graced by Dr Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary, Assam as the Chief Guest and Sanjay Lohiya, IAS, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines as the Guest of Honour. Dr. Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, IAS, Principal Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam, Janardan Prasad, Director General, GSI, Dr. Lakshmanan S, IAS, Secretary, Mines & Minerals, Govt of Assam, Sh Indra Dev Narayan, CMD, MECL, Sh G. K. Kesari, ADG, GSI, NER, Sh N. Anand, IFS, Director, Dept of Geology & Mining, Govt of Assam and other higher officials from Ministry of Mines, Dept of Geology & Mining, GSI, MECL and other PSUs, representatives of industry as well as academia also participated in the important workshop.
In his address, Dr. Ravi Kota, IAS, Chief Secretary of Assam has emphasized on the of role of minerals and mining industry for the growth of the state and urged upon the govt and private agencies to maximize the efforts for exploration of their mineral resources in the state of Assam in a time bound manner. The state government will provide all the necessary support to the agencies to add the mineral industry in the momentum of growth of Assam, he added.
Sanjay Lohiya, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Mines has emphasized on policies of grant of Composite Licence and Exploration Licence policies of the ministry to intensify the exploration and extraction of the mineral resources of the country. He explained how ministry is focusing on exploration and beneficiation of critical minerals. He also noted about the usage of NGDR Portal by stakeholder agencies. He stated that the metals and mining sector in India is expected to witness a major leap in the next five years, owing to positive reforms and introduction of attractive incentive schemes. He also requested the state govt to prepare the roadmaps for exploration through State Geological Programming Board and Central Geological Programming Board. He stressed on the utilisation of the opportunities provided through NMET and holding of Joint Working Group meeting regularly.
Dr. Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, IAS, Principal Secretary to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam in his address welcomed all the exploration and exploitation agencies to Assam to scale up and expressed that the state govt will facilitate in all possible ways.
Janardan Prasad, Director General, Geological Survey of India has expressed that GSI has already completed the Systematic Geological Mapping, National Geochemical Mapping and in the verge of completion of the National Geophysical Mapping. All kinds of legacy and multi-thematic data of GSI is uploaded in the National Geological Data Repository Portal (NGDR) for the benefit of stakeholders, he stated.
Siladitya Sengupta, DDG, GSI, Assam gave a detailed presentation on the achievements of GSI and future prospects of exploration in the state of Assam. From its inception in 1851, GSI is conducting geological surveys and studies in Assam, and also acted as the prime provider of basic earth science information to government, industry and general public. He highlighted the contributions of GSI regarding the augmentation of mineral resources in Assam since the discovery of coal in Upper Assam and also delineated the future programmes of the department. The following are the important accomplishments of GSI till date in the state of Assam.
Manish Kumar, Dy. Secretary, Ministry of Mines outlined the role of National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) and detailed about the incentive schemes introduced through it. He stated that these schemes are introduced to states as well as private exploration agencies. Government of India has made amendments in MMDR act in 2023 to notify 24 minerals as Critical and Strategic minerals for which auction will be done by the central government, he added.
In the workshop, the Department of Geology & Mining, Govt of Assam, MECL, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons have also outlined their future roadmap for the development of Mineral and Petroleum sector of the state.
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